The public must have confidence in the integrity of the process by which the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) makes its recommendations. The reputations of the USPSTF members as highly regarded researchers, clinicians, and academic scholars contribute to this objective and must be protected if the USPSTF recommendation statements are to be accepted and implemented. It is also essential that Task Force deliberations benefit from members' vigorous exchange of perspectives that are derived from and shaped by the member's research and/or practice experiences.
The intent of requesting disclosure of any potential conflict of interest is to ensure that the USPSTF provides a balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous product (including its recommendation statements) by understanding other interests that could potentially influence the work and decisionmaking of its members. The USPSTF requires each member to disclose all information regarding any possible financial and nonfinancial conflicts of interest prior to each meeting for all topics under development or that will be discussed at each meeting. Previous disclosures for continuing topics must also be updated to reflect changes in a member’s situation since the form was last completed.
Prior to each meeting or to new member appointment, all disclosures are reviewed by the Task Force Chairs according to the criteria specified in the USPSTF Procedure Manual and determined to be either Level 1, 2, or 3. The Task Force Chairs determine the final action on the member's eligibility to participate on a specific topic based on the nature and significance of the potential conflict.
- Level 1 disclosures include nonfinancial disclosures that would not affect the judgment of a Task Force member. These disclosures do not require any action.
- Level 2 disclosures include financial disclosures of $1,000 or less and nonfinancial disclosures that are relevant to a topic but not anticipated to affect the judgment of the Task Force member for that topic. These disclosures are announced at the Task Force meeting, but do not limit the Task Force member’s participation in the topic process.
- Level 3 disclosures include financial disclosures of a larger amount and significant nonfinancial disclosures that may affect the Task Force member's view on the topic. Actions for Level 3 disclosures vary according to the nature of the conflict, and may include preventing the member from serving as lead of a topic or on the workgroup of a topic, preventing the member from serving as a primary spokesperson for a topic, or preventing the member from taking part in all topic activities. As all new Task Force members are reviewed for conflicts prior to joining the Task Force, Level 3 disclosures are uncommon.
All decisions are kept on file. The USPSTF Procedure Manual provides a complete description of the criteria for each level and range of possible recommended actions.
Level 3 Disclosures for Current USPSTF Members
Carol M. Mangione:
None
Michael J. Barry:
None
Wanda K. Nicholson:
None
Michael Cabana:
None
David Chelmow:
Topic: Screening for Breast Cancer
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Chelmow served as chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Practice Advisory Committee. In this role, he was involved in the development of practice guidelines related to breast cancer screening.
Date of Disclosure: March 2022
Action: Dr. Chelmow is recused from all topic activities.
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Topic: Screening for Cervical Cancer
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Chelmow serves as immediate past chair of the American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology and served as chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Practice Advisory Committee. In these roles, he was involved in the development of practice guidelines related to cervical cancer screening.
Date of Disclosure: March 2022
Action: Dr. Chelmow is recused from all topic activities.
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Topic: Screening for Anxiety in Adults
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Chelmow served as chair of the Women's Preventive Services Initiative Multidisciplinary Steering Committee. In this role, he participated in the development of recommendations for anxiety screening.
Date of Disclosure: March 2022
Action: Dr. Chelmow may not participate in the topic workgroup but may deliberate and vote on the topic.
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Topic: Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Chelmow served as chair of the Women's Preventive Services Initiative Multidisciplinary Steering Committee and served as chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Practice Advisory Committee. In these roles, he was invloved in the development of practice guidelines related to osteoporosis.
Date of Disclosure: March 2022
Action: Dr. Chelmow is recused from all topic activities.
Tumaini Rucker Coker:
None
Esa M. Davis:
None
Katrina E. Donahue:
Topic: Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Donahue is the vice chair of the University of North Carolina EPC where faculty and primary care research fellows are working on this Task Force topic.
Date of Disclosure: March 2022
Action: Dr. Donahue may participate in the topic workgroup and deliberate and vote on the topic.
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Topic: Serologic Screening for Genital Herpes
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Donahue is the vice chair of the University of North Carolina EPC where faculty and primary care research fellows are working on this Task Force topic.
Date of Disclosure: March 2022
Action: Dr. Donahue may participate in the topic workgroup and deliberate and vote on the topic.
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Topic: Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Donahue is the vice chair of the University of North Carolina EPC where faculty and primary care research fellows are working on this Task Force topic.
Date of Disclosure: March 2020
Action: Dr. Donahue may participate in the topic workgroup and deliberate and vote on the topic.
Carlos Roberto Jaén:
None
Martha Kubik:
None
Li Li:
None
Gbenga Ogedegbe:
None
Lori Pbert:
Topic: Interventions for Weight Management in Children and Adolescents
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Pbert has conducted research on pediatric obesity prevention and treatment.
Date of Disclosure: February 2022
Action: Dr. Pbert may participate in the topic workgroup and deliberate and vote on the topic.
John M. Ruiz:
None
James Stevermer:
None
John B. Wong:
Topic: Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Level 3 Disclosure: Dr. Wong has received a research grant on familial hypercholesterolemia screening in children and has a publication included in the Task Force's evidence review.
Date of Disclosure: July 2022
Action: Dr. Wong is recused from all topic activities.
Current as of: January 2023
Internet Citation: Conflict of Interest Disclosures. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. January 2023.